I don’t know what kind of car you drive, but the next time you get in it, look around and imagine nine people sleeping in it. With the Thanksgiving holiday just behind us, a time when we all join with family and friends to celebrate and be thankful for all we have in our lives, […]
I don’t know what kind of car you drive, but the next time you get in it, look around and imagine nine people sleeping in it.
With the Thanksgiving holiday just behind us, a time when we all join with family and friends to celebrate and be thankful for all we have in our lives, I’m betting all of ours was better than the one Maria Herrera had.
It’s pretty difficult to be thankful for much when your whole family, Herrera and her eight kids, including one child with a disability, have to spend it living in a car.
Herrera says no agency would help her because they said she had too many children.
I saw this story on my Facebook feed and I was deeply moved by the bravery of Maria Herrera to share her story. Desperate for help, she was willing to go on camera with her plight.
WJLA, Sinclair’s ABC affiliate in Washington, aired this story on Monday. After it appeared, the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center of the D.C. Department of Human Services placed the family in housing where they will stay until a permanent living situation is found.
I spoke to WJLA’s reporter for this story, Jennifer Donelan, who told me that this isn’t just one isolated example of a homeless family looking for help.
Donelan said the resource center is filled with homeless moms and their children, looking for a place to stay.
According to WJLA, after seeing the story, many viewers wrote in or called in wanting to help the mother and the children.
Among a host of gracious offers, the station received several requests about how to send the children holiday gifts.
The children include 1-year-old twin girls, a 3-year-old girl, 4-year-old son, 6-year-old girl and three older girls ages 11, 13 and 15.
A D.C. church is getting involved and will facilitate any offers of assistance.
Here’s the contact information:
Maria Herrera and her 8 children
c/o The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
4901 16th St NW
Washington DC 20010
Branch President is Patricio Ortega
cell: 240-750-3204
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